Julie Hardaker

Julie Hardaker (born 1960) is the Mayor of Hamilton, New Zealand. Born in New Zealand, she was self-employed in Australia in the 1980s. After graduating from the University of Waikato, she joined the Hamilton law firm McCaw Lewis Chapman and eventually became a partner and held senior management roles. She is involved in various community organisations at a governance level. As a political novice, she defeated former Mayor and experienced politician Bob Simcock in the 2010 New Zealand local government elections. A year into the political role, her popularity was unchanged.

Life outside politics

Hardaker was born in 1960 (age 51–52)^[1] and grew up near Rotorua. She lived in in Australia during the 1980s, where she was self-employed in retail. She graduated from the University of Waikato Faculty of Law in 1995 with LLB Hons.^[2]

After university she joined the Hamilton law firm McCaw Lewis Chapman, where she became a partner in 2000.^[2] She initially specialised in dispute resolution, before turning her attention to employment law. She chaired the law firm's governance board, and at the time of her election as Mayor of Hamilton, she was in charge of finance.^[3]

Hardaker has served on the boards of the Waikato Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. She has been a member of the St Peters School Board of Trustees, and has been on the board of Habitat for Humanity Waikato.^[3] Since before her election as Mayor, she has been the chairman of the Waikato SPCA.^[3][4] As of 2011, she is studying for a Masters degree in management at the University of Waikato.^[3]

Hardaker is married to Steven Perdia, who is father to two boys living in Australia.^[1]

Political career

Hardaker entered the 2010 mayoral contest as a political newcomer,^[1] one of six candidates.^[4] Her main opponent was the experienced politician Bob Simcock, the incumbent Mayor, who has been on Hamilton City Council for 16 years.^[1] He had been appointed Mayor in 2007 following the resignation of his predecessor,^[5] and had represented Hamilton West in Parliament from 1996^[6] until his defeat in 2002.^[7]

Hardaker campaigned for transparent government,^[8] city living, making the Waikato River accessible, and reinstating commuter trains to and from Auckland.^[1]

Of the 33,000 votes cast Hardaker and Simcock received 13,626 and 12,670, respectively, a majority of 956 votes and representing about 41% for Hardaker.^[1][4][9] A year into her reign, an opinion poll by the Waikato Times showed an almost unchanged level of support, with 40% of the respondents stating they would vote for her again if an election were held tomorrow.^[9]

References